Facts and Figures

• 1981 - First cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) reported.
• 1983 - Agent now known to be responsible for AIDS called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was isolated and identified.
• There are at least two types of HIV, HIV-2 which is mainly found in West Africa, and HIV-1 which is more virulent and causes the most AIDS worldwide.
• HIV generally leads to a depletion of CD4 T cells (a type of white blood cell).
• As of January 1999, there were an estimated 30 to 40 million cases of HIV worldwide
• The number of infected people worldwide continues to grow at an alarming rate: